Game-Changing Charging: The 2025 MotorTrend Best Tech Award for NACS

02-25-2025motortrend

The sleek North American Charging System (NACS) has transformed the electric vehicle landscape with its user-friendly design and superior technology, outperforming the cumbersome CCS plug for DC fast charging. While the J1772 AC Level 1 or 2 connectors are similarly easy to use, Tesla's development of the NACS makes it significantly more advanced. The NACS communication protocol can detect issues such as ground-fault interruptions, helping drivers avoid unnecessary service calls.

NACS Framework and Features

The SAE J3400 NACS framework includes advanced error diagnostics, recommended by the National Charging Experience Consortium (ChargeX), that enhance user experience by identifying a broader range of faults, such as potential vandalism if the cord-to-vehicle lock malfunctions.

Key strengths of NACS include:

- Future-Ready Charging: Supports 1-megawatt charging at 1,000 volts and up to 1,000 amps with cooling on both sides.
- Versatile Charging Levels: Unlike the J1772, NACS handles up to 277 volts, compatible with commercial power, reducing the need for costly transformers. It also supports three-phase AC fast charging for commercial fleets.
- Cost-Effective Public Charging: Embraces the "bring your own cable" concept with Level 2 charging, which can attract apartment dwellers to EVs by making public charging more accessible and affordable.

American electrification is caught between governmental policies and consumer demand. NACS is set to enhance the appeal of EVs, winning the 2025 MotorTrend Best Tech Award for Public Charging Experience.

Other 2025 MotorTrend Best Tech Award Finalists

- Electrify America Indoor Flagship Station: Features 20 ultra-fast 350-kW chargers and amenities like lounges and Wi-Fi near the Bay Bridge.
- Mercedes-Benz Charging Hub: A network of global hubs offering 400-kW max charging with exclusively green electricity and additional conveniences.
- Rivian Charger Reliability Score: Evaluates public fast chargers based on performance and routes users to high-ranking chargers.
- Tesla Supercharger Access: Opens to non-Tesla vehicles using plug adapters, though compatibility issues across brands persist.

Summary

NACS revolutionizes EV charging with its smart, user-friendly design and versatile capabilities, paving the way for widespread EV adoption. With innovations that improve charging speed, safety, and accessibility, NACS is the clear leader, earning the MotorTrend Best Tech Award for Public Charging Experience in 2025.